Jun 26, 2008

RINGO ROCKS RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL with his All Star Band

Ringo Starr is doing his 10th go around with an All Star Band. As Ringo says " Everyone on the stage is a star in their own right". As usual it was a fantastic show, with professional fantastic quality of musicianship on stage sharing the spotlight & backing each other up.Bands who have been together for years are not as tight as these pros are. In the middle of it all is a Beatle, the man who has been through it all, done it all, and is still having a great time doing it again. Ringo is his usual cool self, making jokes, laughing and singing through out the show. Then he gets behind the drums and becomes a serious legendary drummer. I can't help thinking to myself during "Act Naturally"- he played this with the Beatles at Shea Stadium. When he does the Beatles oldie "Boys" ( because as Ringo says; he wants to do it because he likes it) I can't help to think, he did this on the Beatles outrageous 1964/ 1965 Tours. Is this classic stuff or what!! After Ringo introduces the band his classic intro for himself is the now classic- "What's My name?" as all of the sold out Radio City Music Hall shouts back - RINGO!!!!

The latest version of the All Stars includes : Billy Squire, Edgar Winter, Gary Wright, Colin Hay from Men at Work, Hamish Stewart of The Average White Band & Paul McCartney's 1990s band, & Greg Bissonet also on drums. Maybe you wouldn't want to see these guys do a whole solo show but put them all together and you got one hell of a show. Personally I think Edgar Winter stole the show from the rest of the All Stars, playing keyboards, saxophone, & percussion. The big tall white haired Texan claims to be the man who invented the strap on keyboard, because he didn't like being couped up behind all those keyboards. For the last number special guest Levon Helm formerly of the Band (fully recovered from his illness) came out and played drums .

Ringo mixed up a bit this time and played few different songs of his own. A special reat for me was besides his usual Beatles classics he threw in "What Goes On" from Rubber Soul. He also threw in some songs off his last couple of albums over the past few years including his latest "Liverpool 8". All in all it was a great show. Ringo sounds great,looks even better , and as usual has a good time without taking anything too serious, putting us all in a good mood. Its hard to Imagine on each tour a crowd favorite is always "Yellow Submarine'. picture a bunch of grown ups at a sold out Radio City all standing up singing "Yellow Submarine" and shouting with Ringo "Sky of Blue, Sea of Green". I wouldn't believe it myself if I didnt witness it and how much fun it is. Thanks for all the great music Ringo, "Carry that weight, a long time".

This was one of six NY area appearances, including Mohegan Sun Casino, Westbury L.I., PNC Arts Center, Taj Mahal Atlantic City, and last weeks Bethel Woods show which had to be canceled due to an equipment truck breaking down at the Canadian border after a Niagara Falls show.

RINGO STARR & his ALL STAR BAND SET LIST- Radio City Music Hall NY Tuesday June 24th, 2008.